Comments for The Ghost Box Challenge at http://www.randi.org/site , comment 1 to 77 out of 20 comments http://www.randi.org/site Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:49:30 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-14221 The best way I can think to refute this nonsense is to introduce controls and blind testing. If you run across some woowoo that thinks this stuff is real, then do the following: 1. Produce a control recording. Run it somewhere neutral, that is not "haunted". In the park or something. Record that. 2. On their "haunted" recording, edit it to remove the questions, leaving only the "responses" that they think they hear. Have others listen to those responses, find out what they think the words being said are. Compare the results to the question that was asked. Repeat with the questions and notice how the responses they hear all suddenly "make sense". 3. Repeat #2 with random or suggestive sections of the control tape. See if they hear anything. 4. For extra credit, mix in sections of the control tape with the "real" responses, see if they can spot the fakes too. If there really are words, then not only would most people get similar results, but they'd get similar negative results from the control sections. In reality, because there's nothing there, the results are going to be highly random *except* in those cases where there is a word in the clear, like from a DJ speaking or something. - otto Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:24:32 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-14148 "And third, and this is what I find most interesting, is that this seems in many case to be a sort of sonic Rorschach test to the person doing the recording. " Very interesting! I'b be interested in a study on this. I think you just may be on to something. - CasaRojo Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:33:56 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-14139 Yes, I think the basis of these claims is pareidolia. But there are a couple other elements thrown into the mix that artificially strengthens the convictions of those claiming that these are voices from beyond. First, adherents have become very good at jumping from concepts like “Sounds like”, “could be”, and “might be”, to the statement “Is saying”. If pushed or challenged, they might then back up to “might be”. But by and large, they just skip that phase and go right to a pronouncement. Second, the people making these claims and populating the EVP websites do not like to post their results, unlabeled and uninterpreted, and ask for private comments. Instead, they post the recordings, label them what they decide they are saying, and THEN post for PUBLIC comments. It is much easier to see a dragon in the clouds once someone points it out to you. And even easier when five people before you say they see it too. And it is much easier to hear curse words in random noise, once someone has framed that for you. Even the original person, whether they realize it or not, frames their interpretation just by preceding the recording by asking it a question. It is amazing how many websites post EVPs that ask yes/no questions, and are constantly showing proof of their results by posting the EVP with a YSSSSSS on the tape (at least in English, yes/no questions almost always get good results – since recorded noise sounds like YSSSSS all on its own). It goes back to the first point: they label it as something, which is really saying it could maybe “Sound like” something, but skip that comment. Then, when a believer reads the label, they hear it too. Confirmed! And third, and this is what I find most interesting, is that this seems in many case to be a sort of sonic Rorschach test to the person doing the recording. It is amazing how suddenly all the EVP groups are getting message about 2012 and the end of the world. Spiritual people get a lot of spirit guide stuff. And some people (who seem to me to be sort of angry or frustrated) get a lot of curse words on the tape. Almost everyone eventually hears their name. And no one hears verifiable predictions (at least, not after the first couple failures). This sonic Rorschach test is interesting to me because it seems to have the tendency to reveal what is most occupying a person’s feelings, or thoughts, or concerns. They post all that on the internet, and its seems like they are performing a sort of vicarious therapy on themselves. So if there are any cognitive science PhD candidates out there looking for a thesis idea, there you go! There are probably very good methods that these people could use to really test their beliefs in the Ghost Box. But, with the community and social experiences they are getting, with the feeling of being on the cutting edge of spiritual and scientific progress, with the abundance of confirmation that the above elements give them, and with the potential of free therapy, stepping into a process that could strip them of all these things, is probably a very daunting prospect. - denver Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:55:48 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13822 Alas, woo takes many forms. An individual who believes in one form will most likely believe in others as well. - vino Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:36:46 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13757 Excuse me, that's not a "modified radio", that's an unmodified Apple iPod. Can we start over again? - DrMatt Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:33:46 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13712 Sorry, but I didn't waste my time visiting Youtube to watching the silly video. It is fake. They are all fakes. - vino Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:29:14 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13597 It's youtube, so there's no validating the authenticity to begin with. It looks like the audio doesn't match the vidoe to begin with; otherwise it's just aural pareidolia from errant radio signals I took radio devices with me to Europe once and quickly learned that they were designed for the N. American designated bandwidths. - Diverted Chrome Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:26:49 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13585 http://www.bestcooldesigner.com/nhljerseys-c-1.html cheap nhl jerseys http://www.bestcooldesigner.com/nhljerseys-c-1.html 2009 nhl jerseys - asd Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:40:34 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13462 A badly acted attempt at 'Blair Witch Project' meets 'Most Haunted'. I note that he has good enough equipment to record, add FX to and overdub good quality video, but finds he gets the best mystical results from using cheap gear badly. If he can add annoying music and FX to his little drama, why should anyone entertain the idea that his supposed recordings are in any way authentic? I wouldn't mind except that the result is so extremely tedious. - jcwept Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:17:08 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13422 Mystic messages divined in the same way from Urdu song: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdG_fey4_ow[/url] - Griz Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:00:15 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13420 Ok, I feel bad now. - latsot Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:36:21 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13419 batboy you going to hell if you do not start believing and making fun God does not like that at all keep playing you will burn in fire for the rest of eternity. Yes I am going to take the James randi challenge i am trying to get a way to wake forest college to meet witha professor up there so i ca get him to sign a paper then I will have all the requirements met. As far as the 7:47 thing i have no clue why that time is so significant to the other side but it is also 11:47 is also. I do not know why it just is. And Batboy god never used my phone i just took pic of him the other spirits here took the two pics I have never seen o s a old house with them in it. - hauntedn2009 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:17:45 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13418 I'm guessing Luke 7:47. - latsot Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:06:33 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13417 Haunted, do you intend to apply to the JREF Challenge or not? I apologise to everyone else here, but I'm afraid I can't resist asking Haunted about the supposed significance of 7:47. I know it's best to ignore him/her and I know he/she will rant about that rather than answer the question about the JREF Challenge, but I couldn't help myself. - latsot Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:02:12 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13414 It's great that you have so much evidence and I'm sure it's all just as spectacular as your video. I was just curious. When Jesus uses your cell phone what does the caller ID say? You and your newfound psychic friend have a good time tonight. - BatBoy Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:47:15 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13409 Well i know you can not see it in that picture that well in the video. But that is not funny about the calling plan they used it to take two pics i have never seen before of another house with them in it. They where taking at 7:47 pm also the pic with jesus is on my cell phone it was taking at 7:47 pm the pics can not be taking. That is why I left them on the phone in the camera gallery there is no other way they could have got there besides taking them. But i have literally hundreds of regular evps and ghost box from any thing them talking about dying to heaven and hell and every thing else in between the other side is nothing to play with it is not a joke. As a matter of fact I just got off the phone with a physic women in my home town that has a shop. I called her and asked her about helping her told her I speak to the dead and she said how can you prove this to me. I told her I could speak to some one she knows that has passed away she said she would like to speak to her father or hear from him so i asked her his name she said bill and her name is grace i got in touch with him and got him to tell me there last name and how he died i called her and told her and she verified that information was correct she wants me to do a ghost box session with her tonight over the phone lol going to do a reading for a physic lol - hauntedn2009 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:39:17 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13407 I first just listened to the video without watching - nothing intelligible could be heard coming from the radio. In fact, this man seems to have problems recording his own voice clearly and should not dub spooky music over an already fuzzy narration. I think he's angling to get on TV (people who say that they're "speechless" after a three minute introduction usually are!). - markbellis Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:14:25 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13406 I did not see Jesus Christ in that picture only a ceiling, it is not my job to debunk your evidence it is your job to give concrete proof that your evidence is valid. Until that day we have no conversation. By the way if spirits are using your cell phone may I recommend you switch over to the "dead friends and family plan" you could save a lot of money. - BatBoy Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:03:56 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13402 As long as there are gullible people like this in the world, Radio Shack can expect to ride through the recession with ease. I bet this fella thinks Sylvia Browne is a MILF... - qdaboo2 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:46:02 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/802-the-ghost-box-challenge.html#comment-13401 Man batboy the reason the pic is up there because it has Jesus Christ in that pic you cant really see it on the video but it is. That pic and the two pics that the spirits here at my house took with my cell phone of another house with them in it where all taking at 7:47 pm. I have so much evidence that you or any one else could not debunk recreate or any thing else. Do not tell me what I can and can not do. You have no clue you do not know me and I can prove I am not crazy and the rest of the world is though for not believing. And that ghost box session is shitty compared to some of the sessions i have and the things I have caught. - hauntedn2009 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:38:23 +0100